# Minot Minotauros

The Minot Minotauros (commonly known as the Tauros) are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Based in Minot, North Dakota, the Tauros play their home games at Maysa Arena.

## History

The Tauros are Minot's fifth hockey team, following the El Paso/Minot Raiders of the Southwest Hockey League in 1975–76 and then as the Minot Rangers for the 1976–77 season, the Minot Maple Leafs of the Continental Hockey League for the 1985–86 season, the Minot Americans/Top Guns of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1987 to 1997, and the Minot Muskies, which played in the America West Hockey League for the 2000–01 season.

## Season-by-season records

| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2011–12 | 60 | 7 | 49 | 4 | 18 | 104 | 252 | 1,313 | 5th, Central | Did not qualify |
| 2012–13 | 60 | 26 | 30 | 4 | 56 | 157 | 186 | 1,284 | 4th, Central | Lost Round 1, 1–3 vs. Austin Bruins |
| 2013–14 | 60 | 24 | 33 | 3 | 51 | 130 | 165 | 797 | 4th, Central | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Austin Bruins |
| 2014–15 | 60 | 37 | 17 | 6 | 80 | 184 | 137 | 856 | 2nd, Central | Won Round 1, 3–0 vs. Bismarck Bobcats Lost Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Austin Bruins |
| 2015–16 | 60 | 35 | 19 | 6 | 76 | 185 | 158 | 1106 | 2nd, Central | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Austin Bruins |
| 2016–17 | 60 | 38 | 18 | 4 | 80 | 192 | 156 | 1137 | 1st, Central | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Aberdeen Wings |
| 2017–18 | 60 | 28 | 26 | 6 | 62 | 161 | 168 | 839 | 4th, Central | Won div. semifinals, 3–2 vs. Aberdeen Wings Won Div. Finals, 3–0 vs. Austin Bruins, Won Robertson Cup Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Fairbanks Ice Dogs Lost Robertson Cup Championship game, 1–2 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs |
| 2018–19 | 60 | 36 | 21 | 3 | 75 | 207 | 161 | 943 | 2nd, Central | Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Bismarck Bobcats Lost Division Finals, 1–3 vs. Aberdeen Wings |
| 2019–20 | 50 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 61 | 192 | 171 | 622 | 4th, Central | Season cancelled |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 23 | 25 | 8 | 54 | 150 | 199 | 972 | 4th, Central | Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–3 vs. Aberdeen Wings |
| 2021–22 | 60 | 28 | 29 | 3 | 59 | 173 | 184 | 1082 | 5th of 6, Central 21st of 29, NAHL | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 60 | 31 | 27 | 2 | 64 | 180 | 189 | 843 | 4th of 6, Central 17th of 29, NAHL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–3 vs. Austin Bruins |
| 2023-24 | 60 | 44 | 14 | 2 | 90 | 208 | 125 | 919 | 1st of 6 Central, 2nd of 32 NAHL | Won Div. Semi-Finals, 3-0 vs. Austin Bruins Won Div. Finals, 3-1 vs. Bismarck Bobcats Lost Robertson Cup Semis, 0-2 vs. Maryland Black Bears |
| 2024-25 | 42 | 32 | 9 | 1 | 65 | 160 | 72 | 574 | 2nd of 8 Central, 3rd of 35 NAHL | TBD |

## Notable alumni

The Minotauros have helped over 150 players move on to the NCAA level of play. The most notable alumni is Blake Lizotte of the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL. Other notable alumni of the program include Jon Lizotte (St. Cloud State, Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins), Mason Morelli(University of Nebraska, Omaha,Hershey Bears, Henderson Silver Knights, Vegas Golden Knights) Johnny Walker (Arizona State, Utah Grizzlies) and Kyle Kukkonen (Michigan Tech, Anaheim Ducks).

## Playoffs

* 2012
    First Round - Austin Bruins defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-1
* 2013
    First Round - Austin Bruins defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-1
* 2014
    First Round - Minot Minotauros deafted Bismarck Bobcats 3-games-to-0
    Second Round - Austin Bruins defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-2
* 2015
    First Round - Austin Bruins defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-1
* 2016
    First Round: - Aberdeen Wings defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-1
* 2017
    First Round: - Minot Minotauros defeated Aberdeen Wings 3-games-to-2
    Second Round: - Minot Minotauros defeated Austin Bruins 3-games-to-0
    Robertson Cup Semi-Finals: - Minot Minotauros defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs 2-games-to-1
    Robertson Cup Championship: - Shreveport Mudbugs defeated Minot Minotauros 2-1
* 2018
    First Round: - Minot Minotauros defeated Bismarck Bobcats 3-games-to-0
    Second Round: - Aberdeen Wings defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-1
* 2020
    First Round: - Aberdeen Wings defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-2
* 2022
    First Round: - Austin Bruins defeated Minot Minotauros 3-games-to-0
* 2023
    First Round: - Minot Minotauros defeated Austin Bruins 3-games-to-0
    Second Round: - Minot Minotauros defeated Bismarck Bobcats 3-games-to-1